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Guyanas Physical Characteristics. Low-lying state with a vulnerable coastal strip - 77 km wide in the east and 26 km wide in the west % of the population resides in the coastal strip, the main urban centres and commercial activities are to be found here. There is a wide range of geographic types with coastal, hilly sandy, highland, savannah and forested regions: 80% pristine. There is no evidence of current tectonic activity in Guyana and indications are that the Guyana shield (and the coastal strip, in particular) will not be affected by convergence of the South and North American plates. But may suffer otherwise, subsidence etc.

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Weather There is a high level of rainfall variability in the country and the seasons and climate are determined mainly by this variability. - First Dry Season (February to April); - First Wet Season (April to July) - Second Dry Season (July to November) - Second Wet Season (November to January) The country can be divided into climatic regions ranging from dry (annual rainfall less than 1788 mm) to extremely wet (annual rainfall greater than 4100 mm). The major weather system is the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone and the major climate system is the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). There have been 12 known ENSO episodes resulting in large-scale floods and droughts.

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Green House Gas (GHG) Inventory Guyana is a net sink of GHG, as the data collected indicates, removals (26,664 Gg) greatly exceed emissions (1446 Gg), that is, a removal balance of 25, 218 Gg in the base year The sector with the highest emission factor was identified as the Energy sector. CO 2 is the major GHG being emitted, accounted for 96.5 % or 1446 Gg of the total emissions of CO 2, CH 4 and N 2 O in 1994.

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Impacts and Vulnerability Assessment AO-GCM of the Canadian Climate Centre & CGCM 1 show for a doubling of Co 2: temperature rise by 1.2°C in the period 2020 to 2040 from present. Highest increases in excess of 1.5°C, are expected in southern Guyana in the Second Dry Season (August to October). Rainfall decrease by an average of 10 mm per month but the decrease in the First Wet Season and Second Dry Season (May to October) will be 12 mm per month or higher. Evaporation, however, appears to show insignificant increases (less than 3 mm per month). Consequent water deficit will be about 8 mm per month on average with larger deficits in southern Guyana.

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Impacts and Vulnerability Contd. AO-GCM of the Canadian Climate Centre & CGCM 1 show for a tripling of Co 2 A temperature rise of 4.2°C on average. Southern Guyana may experience highest increases. Rainfall can decrease by an average of 21 mm per month with higher decreases in the First Wet Season and Second Dry Season. Southern Guyana could be influenced by the highest decreases. Therefore, Southern Guyana may experience large water deficits in the First Wet Season and Second Dry Season while Northern Guyana is likely to be affected by deficits all year round with excesses of 22 mm per month. Evaporation is likely to increase by about 3.3 mm per month, on average in northern Guyana in excess of 12 mm per month.

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Impacts and Vulnerability Contd. Water Resources - The impact of climate change on water resources is forecast to be significant. Decreasing rainfall and increasing evaporation can lead to lower water levels in the rivers. Extreme rainstorm events can allow for flood conditions especially during cold phase ENSO events. Demand for water is expected to increase with increasing temperatures and the relative value of water for alternative uses would likely change as priorities are determined on the basis of needs.

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Impacts and Vulnerability Contd. energy sector. -Demands for interior space cooling and possibly decreased hydro-generating potential supply from some river basins can pose problems. Hydropower generation will be affected. agriculture sector. -analyses based only on changes in climate variables, show yield losses will affect sugar and rice. These losses may be triggered by increased water demands from crop transpiration and greater respiration losses as a consequence of higher temperatures. There may be changes also in yield quality due to a decreased diurnal temperature range resulting in, eg, decreased sucrose content.

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Impacts and Vulnerability Contd. Forestry sector -Impacts of CO 2 -induced climate change shall be similar to those in agriculture. -Forest growth will have negative response in the dry season but may be exacerbated with any increases of CO 2 for commercial timber eg. Greenheart.

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Sea Level Rise Tide gauge data in Guyana for the period 1951 to 1979 indicate a mean relative sea level rise of 10.2 mm yr -1. This is about 5 times the global average and suggests a mechanism other than normal sea level rise may be operating on Guyanas coast. Sea level rise can result in salt-water intrusion further up in the rivers. Ground water can also be vulnerable. The global circulation models (GCMs) indicate average rises of 2 to 4 mm yr-1 in the first half of the twenty-first century and rises of 3 to 6 mm yr-1 in the latter half. But models operating on Guyanas data show a likely rise of 40 cm by the end of the 21 st century. If melt water contribution from land ice is included, then rise may be about 60 cm.

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Mitigation Options. Three sectors are important, substantial external support needed:- Energy sector, Agriculture sector and the Waste sector. technology transfer to make energy use more efficient, changing farm practices and to reduce emissions from waste management. Renewable sources of power such as hydropower, solar and wind should be addressed.

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Future plans. To implement major recommendations of the National Communications:-

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National Communications Major recommendations. Accelerate energy market reform. Improve fuel efficiency in land, sea and air transport. Implement national efficiency codes and standards for buildings. Foster local carbon sequestration programmes. Develop a municipal programme for climate protection by good practices. Improve education, public awareness and training in CC issues. Extend the National Land Use Plan. Develop appropriate emergency response programmes.

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Major Recommendations Contd. Introduce public awareness and education on CC. Establish a Climate Change Unit Seek financial resources and support to protect coastal infrastructure. Inventorise coastal assets & determine areas of greater threat to SLR. Research plant species that will tolerate the adverse impacts of CC. Boost the development of renewable energy Calculate the baseline emission and local emission factor. Seek funding to support the strengthening of the sector agencies contributions, through improved data collection, local emission values etc.